Importing projects from Microsoft Project

You can import Microsoft® Project projects that have been saved as XML files into Asta Powerproject. You can also import Microsoft Project MPP files into Asta Powerproject, provided that you have Microsoft Project installed on the same computer as Asta Powerproject.

As well as being able to import Microsoft Project projects as projects in their own right, if you have Microsoft Project installed on the same computer, you can choose to import Microsoft Project projects that have been saved as MPP or XML files into specific charts or summary groups within existing Asta Powerproject projects.

Note that due to differences between file formats, some of the information in an MPP or XML file may be modified or lost when you import it.

To import a Microsoft Project MPP or XML file into Asta Powerproject:

To import a file as a project in its own right, click the File tab, click Import/Export, then click Import from Microsoft Project; to import a file into a specific chart or summary group, right-click a chart or summary group in the project view and select Import into chart from Microsoft Project. The Microsoft Project Import Options dialog appears. This dialog differs depending on whether you are importing a file as a project in its own right or importing a file into a specific chart or summary group.
Specify the project you want to import either by typing a file location, name and extension directly into the File field, or by clicking Browse to select a file.
If you are importing a file as a project in its own right, select a template in the Use template field to apply a template to the project, or select Blank in the field to import the project without applying a template to it.
If you are importing a file into a specific chart or summary group, select the Place imported library objects in a folder named check box to specify that any Library Explorer objects such as calendars, cost centres, cost and income rates and resources that are created as a result of the import should be placed in the appropriate libraries within folders that are given the name that you specify in the field below the check box. Clear this check box to specify that any such Library Explorer objects should be placed in the root of the Library Explorer hierarchies.
Select the Import cost allocations check box to import fixed costs on tasks from the Microsoft Project file, or clear the check box to omit fixed costs from the import.
Select the Import resource allocations check box to import resource allocations from the Microsoft Project file, or clear the check box to omit resource allocations from the import.
Select the Import code libraries check box to import code libraries and code library entries from the Microsoft Project file, or clear the check box to omit code libraries and code library entries from the import.
Use the Convert negative costs to field to specify whether to convert negative costs in the Microsoft Project file into income, or to leave them as negative costs in the resulting file.
Click OK to import the selected Microsoft Project file.

Note that when you import a Microsoft Project file into Asta Powerproject, its programme chart is marked as being a project.

Once you have imported a Microsoft Project file into Asta Powerproject, you are advised to save the project subsequently in Asta Powerproject's file format - as a PP file - to avoid losing information that is not supported by the MPP and XML formats.